The Crescent Olive

I am obsessed with these places! The Crescent Olive in Columbia, SC (and Palmetto Olive Oil Co. in Greenville, SC - sister companies) sell extra virgin olive oils and aged balsamic vinegar, as well as some fun accessories like cookbooks and olive oil hand cream. I was first introduced to them as a gift from my co-workers at my bridal shower in March and I use them for everything: salads, marinades, etc. etc. etc.

Over Thanksgiving, Rhett and I finally went in to Palmetto Olive Oil Co. and it changed my life. They have rows and rows of vats and vats full of liquid gold and syrupy heaven. One row has traditional EVOO in order from most mild to most robust. Another row has their flavored EVOOs (such as Tuscan herb or Persian lime). They'll give you a bowl of bread pieces and little sample cups to try as many as you want. The other section has rows of their balsamic vinegar (such as jalapeno or pomegranate) and they'll give you a little scoop of... wait for it, wait for it... ice cream. A few drops on a spoon full of vanilla ice cream adds a sweet and tangy burst of flavor. They'll also give you some other fun serving suggestions for the balsamic, such as flavoring a glass of water. Who knew?

Mike and Charlotte Easler, husband and wife owners of The Crescent Olive

(they are also co-owners of Palmetto Olive Oil Co.)

Each vat lists the flavor, the perfect pairings, and other information

Thanks to them, Santa was able to do a one stop shop. 

It was EVOO and balsamic vinegar for everyone this year. 

On Christmas Day, I replicated their concept and did a mini-tasting. 

Where the magic happens

After your tasting (free, no appointment needed), they'll bottle your favorites for you on the spot

One of my favorite ways to use them is in an orzo pasta salad. I mix cooked orzo, diced cherry tomatoes, diced fresh mozzarella, then dump a flavor of EVOO and a flavor of balsamic in and refrigerate. If you haven't tried their products out yet, there's no way you'll be disappointed.

I've learned that places like these are popping up all over the country, so keep your eyes peeled. If you don't have one near you, you can order their stuff via their website. 200 ml-sized bottles start at $10.95 and up or you can buy a gift set of six small bottle pairings of their best sellers (60 ml each) for $30. Join their email list and they'll send you recipes and such every month. I don't know the owners nor do I have any ties to these businesses. I'm simply obsessed.

[photo sources: The State, Mrs. WRCIV]